---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-criticism is one of the functions of…"
description: "\"“Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.”\" — Daniel Kahneman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg"
---

#  Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.

![“Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.” quote by Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg)

> ““Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.””

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

System 2 monitors and critiques thoughts, allowing self‑criticism to improve reasoning.

**In simple terms:** System 2 lets us critique our own thinking.

Key Takeaway

Use self‑criticism to catch errors.

Themes

self‑awareness critical thinking metacognition

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- decision making
- learning
- personal growth

Key Concepts

cognitive psychology dual‑process theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance self‑criticism with self‑compassion?
- When does self‑criticism hinder progress?

A Different Perspective

Self‑criticism can be harsh and demotivating if overused.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-criticism/)

## Related quotes

> [For most of us even the imagined threat of criticism functions to control our behavior. We are haunted to some degree by questions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/for-most-of-us-even-the-imagined-threat-of-criticism-functions-to/)

[Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/)

> [“The expectation of intelligent gossip is a powerful motive for serious self-criticism, more powerful than New Year resolutions to improve one's decision making at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-expectation-of-intelligent-gossip-is-a-powerful-motive-for/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [It is the West that has liberated women, racial minorities, religious minorities, and gays and lesbians, recognizing and defending their rights. The notions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/it-is-the-west-that-has-liberated-women-racial-minorities-religious/)

[Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/)

> [One should never criticize his own work except in a fresh and hopeful mood. The self-criticism of a tired mind is suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/one-should-never-criticize-his-own-work-except-in-a-fresh-and-hopeful/)

[Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/)

> [One who accepts criticism gracefully is genuinely interested in self improvement.One who is willing to excel accept constructive criticism by his core of heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/one-who-accepts-criticism-gracefully-is-genuinely-interested-in-self/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [I've been as critically rubbished as acclaimed and the worst thing about that is that it usually plays into your own self-criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-ward/i-ve-been-as-critically-rubbished-as-acclaimed-and-the-worst-thing/)

[Rachel Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-ward/)

> [“Lo! we are diseased and dying, cried the dark hosts; we cannot write, our voting is vain; what need of education, since we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/lo-we-are-diseased-and-dying-cried-the-dark-hosts-we-cannot-write-our/)

[W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/)

> [As there must be moderation in other things, so there must be moderation in self-criticism. Perpetual contemplation of our own actions produces a morbid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/as-there-must-be-moderation-in-other-things-so-there-must-be/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [Today, you have neuroscientists working on a genetic, behavioural or cognitive level, and then you have informaticians, chemists and mathematicians. They all have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-markram/today-you-have-neuroscientists-working-on-a-genetic-behavioural-or/)

[Henry Markram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-markram/)

> [There are several patients - there are thousands of patients, tens of thousands of patients, that carry either a stimulator in the brain or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/there-are-several-patients-there-are-thousands-of-patients-tens-of/)

[Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/)

> [It used to hurt when people ran down my films. I used to feel inferior. I wouldn't go to parties or award functions because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-shetty/it-used-to-hurt-when-people-ran-down-my-films-i-used-to-feel-inferior/)

[Rohit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-shetty/)

> [The English tradition offers the great tapestry novel, where you have the emotional aspect of a detective's personal life, the circumstances of the crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/the-english-tradition-offers-the-great-tapestry-novel-where-you-have/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [The circulatory system of man and the vertebrate animals can be considered as made up of a small number of organs or subordinate systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-krogh/the-circulatory-system-of-man-and-the-vertebrate-animals-can-be/)

[August Krogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-krogh/)

> [We are victims of the post-Enlightenment view that the world functions like a sophisticated machine, to be understood like a textbook engineering problem and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/we-are-victims-of-the-post-enlightenment-view-that-the-world/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

## More by Daniel Kahneman

> [Economists think about what people ought to do. Psychologists watch what they actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/economists-think-about-what-people-ought-to-do-psychologists-watch/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“Belief in the Law of Small Numbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/belief-in-the-law-of-small-numbers/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“People who are poor think like traders, but the dynamics are quite different. Unlike traders, the poor are not indifferent to the differences between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/people-who-are-poor-think-like-traders-but-the-dynamics-are-quite/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [The confidence that individuals have in their beliefs depends mostly on the quality of the story they can tell about what they see, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-confidence-that-individuals-have-in-their-beliefs-depends-mostly/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“So this is my aim for watercooler conversations: improve the ability to identify and understand errors of judgment and choice, in others and eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/so-this-is-my-aim-for-watercooler-conversations-improve-the-ability/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“For example, I recently came to doubt my long-held impression that adultery is more common among politicians than among physicians or lawyers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/for-example-i-recently-came-to-doubt-my-long-held-impression-that/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Survival prospects are poor for an animal that is not suspicious of novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/survival-prospects-are-poor-for-an-animal-that-is-not-suspicious-of/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“the idea of money primes individualism: a reluctance to be involved with others, to depend on others, or to accept demands from others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-idea-of-money-primes-individualism-a-reluctance-to-be-involved/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Most of the moments of our life - and I calculated, you know, the psychological present is said to be about three seconds long;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/most-of-the-moments-of-our-life-and-i-calculated-you-know-the/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“knowing little makes it easier to fit everything you know into a coherent pattern.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/knowing-little-makes-it-easier-to-fit-everything-you-know-into-a/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Experts don't know exactly where the boundaries of their expertise are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/experts-don-t-know-exactly-where-the-boundaries-of-their-expertise-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [All of us would be better investors if we just made fewer decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/all-of-us-would-be-better-investors-if-we-just-made-fewer-decisions/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“The best we can do is a compromise: learn to recognize situations in which mistakes are likely and try harder to avoid significant mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-best-we-can-do-is-a-compromise-learn-to-recognize-situations-in/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [“A happy mood loosens the control of System 2 over performance: when in a good mood, people become more intuitive and more creative but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/a-happy-mood-loosens-the-control-of-system-2-over-performance-when-in/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

[Explore all 560 Daniel Kahneman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

## More Criticism quotes

> [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/)

[Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/)

> [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

[Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/)

> [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/)

[Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/)

> [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/)

[Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/)

[Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/)

> [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/)

[Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/)

> [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/)

[Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/)

[Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Daniel Kahneman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-of-system-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Criticism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-of-system-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/daniel-kahneman-431_criticism_self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-o_2540127.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Self-criticism is one of the functions of System 2.” — Daniel Kahneman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Daniel Kahneman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Self-criticism is one of the functions...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-of-system-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/self-criticism-is-one-of-the-functions-of-system-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```